Communication

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You will explore the principles of communication across contexts — interpersonal, social, political, economic, cultural and beyond place and time — and by means of various technologies. Through theory and practice, you will prepare for civic engagement beyond the classroom, in our highly mediated environment.

About the Minor

Students will investigate the diverse ways in which information technologies can alter the human communication environment. They’ll study the complex ways in which concerns with communication cannot be separated from ethical concerns. They’ll discern how interpersonal communication is fundamentally different from the varied forms of mediated communication.

The things that stand out the most from my time on the Hill are the relationships I built with both my professors and my peers. I think the fact that Hamilton is such a small community compared to other universities makes it extra special.

Meredith Kennedy '09

Communication has always been complex, and today’s mediated environment makes the complexity more obvious by creating the potential for confusion. For example, text messages omit context by eliminating intonation and gesture. When a society introduces new technologies such as the printing press, broadcast, or digital devices, communication’s norms and conventions inevitably will be altered.

Penelope Dane

A Sampling of Courses

An introduction to the fundamental questions of the discipline. Investigates the role of symbolic communication, the essential features of interpersonal communication and group process, as well as the ways in which mediated communication alters perceptions of community and identity. Communication theories are supported by case studies that illustrate the relevance of communication for everyday life.

Focuses on speech, privacy, and advocacy in order to explore the liberties and constraints of living in community with others. Instantaneous access to information via social media contributes to emerging questions regarding privacy and challenging new experiences of community. The course focuses on four related questions: Why do our communities require privacy? What does the American tradition teach us about privacy? How can advocacy weaken – or strengthen – community? What new forms of advocacy challenge our understanding of privacy? Writing-intensive.Oral Presentations.

Theories of environmental, health, safety, agricultural, and corporate risks and crises will be addressed. Focusing on the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, this course examines how communication policies and procedures provide a framework for social change in vulnerable communities. Based on real scenarios, students study risk assessment, risk perception, message design, crisis management, media relations, and barriers to effective risk and crisis communication.

How do rapid changes in the process of news-making alter the political process? Does democracy require accurate news reporting? Is objectivity possible? What is the role of the press (print, broadcast, digital, and social media) in the twenty-first century? How do historical precedents help us to understand the impact of digital media on the political process? What theories do communication scholars offer to clarify the interplay of media and politics? Oral Presentations.

Though conventional wisdom suggests that the internet is a force for freedom and tolerance, it is also a place where existing biases and inequalities get replicated and at times magnified. This course explores the way social categories such as race, class, and gender persist online and the way various biases and prejudices are both combatted and enflamed in online spaces.

Theoretical analysis of how communication technology alters social construction of time, space, community and identity. Readings detail historical precedents in order to address future implications of emerging technologies.

Introduction to Communication
101FS

An introduction to the fundamental questions of the discipline. Investigates the role of symbolic communication, the essential features of interpersonal communication and group process, as well as the ways in which mediated communication alters perceptions of community and identity. Communication theories are supported by case studies that illustrate the relevance of communication for everyday life.

Free Speech: Privacy and Advocacy
103

Focuses on speech, privacy, and advocacy in order to explore the liberties and constraints of living in community with others. Instantaneous access to information via social media contributes to emerging questions regarding privacy and challenging new experiences of community. The course focuses on four related questions: Why do our communities require privacy? What does the American tradition teach us about privacy? How can advocacy weaken – or strengthen – community? What new forms of advocacy challenge our understanding of privacy? Writing-intensive.Oral Presentations.

Crisis Communication: Social Change for Vulnerable Communities
303

Theories of environmental, health, safety, agricultural, and corporate risks and crises will be addressed. Focusing on the public, private and not-for-profit sectors, this course examines how communication policies and procedures provide a framework for social change in vulnerable communities. Based on real scenarios, students study risk assessment, risk perception, message design, crisis management, media relations, and barriers to effective risk and crisis communication.

Media and Politics
310

How do rapid changes in the process of news-making alter the political process? Does democracy require accurate news reporting? Is objectivity possible? What is the role of the press (print, broadcast, digital, and social media) in the twenty-first century? How do historical precedents help us to understand the impact of digital media on the political process? What theories do communication scholars offer to clarify the interplay of media and politics? Oral Presentations.

Digital Divisions: Race, Class, and Gender Online
316F

Though conventional wisdom suggests that the internet is a force for freedom and tolerance, it is also a place where existing biases and inequalities get replicated and at times magnified. This course explores the way social categories such as race, class, and gender persist online and the way various biases and prejudices are both combatted and enflamed in online spaces.

Seminar: Communication, Technology and Society
451S

Theoretical analysis of how communication technology alters social construction of time, space, community and identity. Readings detail historical precedents in order to address future implications of emerging technologies.